Holiday Cookies!

[MarissaNicole]

So I am trying to branch outside of my comfort zone for this years Christmas cookies, but I have a tendency to make the ones I like, which include chocolate and are bars. I know there are some phenomenal bakers out there, so I was wondering if you would mind sharing your favorite cookie recipes here.

Here are my two favorites (again chocolate and bars so I need to branch out a bit!)

SEVEN LAYER BARS

1 stick of butter
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
12 oz bag of choc chips
6 oz bag of butterscotch chips
1 c. coconut
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 c. chopped pecans

Melt butter and mix with graham crackers. Press into 9X13 pan. Sprinkle ingredients one at a time in order over crust. Then pour condensed milk over top and bake at 350 degrees.



CHOCOLATE PECAN TOFFEE BARS
2 ¼ c. flour
2/3 c. brown sugar
¾ c. butter
1 egg
2 c. semi sweet choc. Chips
1 c. chopped pecans
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1 c. toffee bits

In large bowl whisk together flour and brown sugar, cut in butter until it resembles crumbles. Whisk egg and add to flour mixture, mix well. Stir in 1 ½ cups of choc chips. Reserve 1 ½ cups of mixture and press remaining mixture into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Pour sweetened condensed milk over hot crust. Top with toffee bits and sprinkle remaining mixture and ½ cup of chocolate chips over top. Bake 30-35 minutes or until set and golden brown.

[TigerLily]

these are the best ginger cookies I have ever eaten. And probably my personal favorite cookie in the world.

Big Soft Ginger Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

It is from allrecipes. These cookies are so yummy and soft. Using orange juice in place of the water makes them just perfect.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

These are a holiday tradition in my family. It's more of a grownup cookie, but there was a little girl at a cookie exchange the other day that loved them, so who knows (I also loved them as a kid, but I grew up on them...it was mandatory eating in my family ). They're not overly sweet...I think they're a really good balance:

Chinese Chews (or the slightly more PC name: Date and Nut Balls)

3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sugar (plus additional sugar for coating)
1 c. dates (pitted and chopped)
1 c. chopped walnuts
3 well-beaten eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla

Sift dry ingredients. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into greased 10 x 14-inch pan. Bake in slow oven 300 degrees for 20 minutes (or until top is golden).


With two forks, scrape dough to the center of cookie sheet and mix so that the top is mixed throughout (or scrape all dough into a large mixing bowl if easier). While still hot, roll dough into 1-inch balls and drop in granulated sugar and coat. This will be very hot so place hands under cold water for every four balls rolled (or as necessary).


They taste best after they have been sitting out (uncovered) overnight. After sitting out overnight, store in an airtight container for about a week and a half (if they last that long), or about three to four days uncovered.

[SoonerTexan]

I'm trolling Pinterest for ideas.

I'm not doing any this year, but it's fun to make sugar cookie & gingerbread snowflakes and decorate them.
This sugar cookie recipe is AMAZING--never had a failure. Probably used it 5-7 times already:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-bes...es/detail.aspx

[Michele]

I love shortbread cookies. I had no idea what they were until a cookie exchange on here a few years back. The recipe is aCooks Illustrated and I posted it in last years cookie exchange thread. Definitely look there for ideas.

But I see nothing wrong with chocolate being in everything. . My favorite things usually combine chocolate peanut butter sugar and salt. Yum!!!

[MarissaNicole]

these are the best ginger cookies I have ever eaten. And probably my personal favorite cookie in the world.

Big Soft Ginger Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

It is from allrecipes. These cookies are so yummy and soft. Using orange juice in place of the water makes them just perfect.

Making these now, and I tried the first batch out of the oven - FABULOUS! Yum! Yum! Yum!

[MarissaNicole]

I made the sugar cookie cut-out recipe about 2 weeks ago and forgot to post that it was a success! It was my first time making sugar cookie dough from scratch!

Cupcakes look delicious.... is that the same recipe as GMW posted in the past?

[scrub-jay]

Does anyone know of any cookie recipes that are delicious, but dairy/egg/nut free? :\ Honestly, the ones from my vegan cookbook substitute a little too much and have a weird texture. Love any insights if you have them!

Does anyone know of any cookie recipes that are delicious, but dairy/egg/nut free? :\ Honestly, the ones from my vegan cookbook substitute a little too much and have a weird texture. Love any insights if you have them!

When I make chocolate chip cookies this is the recipe I use. You can easily leave out the nuts or use sunflower/ pumpkin seeds if she's okay with them. They are crumbly so no good for shipping, but yummy for your DD!

http://m.epicurious.com/recipes/memb...OKIES-50076790

[scrub-jay]

When I make chocolate chip cookies this is the recipe I use. You can easily leave out the nuts or use sunflower/ pumpkin seeds if she's okay with them. They are crumbly so no good for shipping, but yummy for your DD!

http://m.epicurious.com/recipes/memb...OKIES-50076790

Perfect!! Thank you!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/date-bars-i/

These too C

[scrub-jay]

I ((heart)) you!! Thank you so much.

[SoonerTexan]

GMW's cupcakes are incredible

[MarissaNicole]

Adding this double chocolate chip cookie recipe as it was AMAZING! Although instead of chocolate chips I used white chocolate chips.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocola...hip-cookies-i/

Scrub-Jay, how about any of these?: http://ohsheglows.com/recipes/#Cookies